Cover image by Etienne Gilfillan
RADIO SOHEMIA IS ON THE AIR!
NEW EPISIDE: CATHI TALKS TO RICHARD MORTON-JACK AND JAMES WILSON
The Sohemian Society has launched a bi-weekly podcast, Radio Sohemia, which provides free access to recordings of live events as well as interviews that didn’t take place in front of an audience.
Our new episode consists of a conversation, chaired by Cathi, between Nick Drake’s biographer Richard Morton Jack and writer James Wilson, whose latest novel, The Pieces, features a Drake-inflected late 1960s folk singer.
Tune in HERE or HERE
Our new episode consists of a conversation, chaired by Cathi, between Nick Drake’s biographer Richard Morton Jack and writer James Wilson, whose latest novel, The Pieces, features a Drake-inflected late 1960s folk singer.
Tune in HERE or HERE
CATHI ON NEW MUSIKAL CHAIRS – PARTS 1 AND 2
Cathi joins host JONATHAN 'J' CRIDFORD to talk about the musical and politcal climate of SEASON OF THE WITCH in part 1 of an extensive interview. In PART 2, up next week, we'll be selecting a Goth soundtrack to get dressed up to from records made before 1984. For YouTube visial version go HERE
For Soundcloud go HERE and for Spotify go HERE
PART 2 – Our Top Ten Goth abums made before 1984 now available HERE
For Soundcloud go HERE and for Spotify go HERE
PART 2 – Our Top Ten Goth abums made before 1984 now available HERE
SEASON OF THE WITCH PLAYLIST
This new and more extensive Spotify playlist was created by Spanish publisher Didac Aparicio for TEMPORADA DE BRUJAS – that's SEASON OF THE WITCH in Spanish, due on 6 MARCH from Contra publishing with a new introduction from Ana Cura. Listen HERE
TEMPORADA DE BRUJAS
ON RADIO 3 (SPAIN)
The all new SPANISH edition of SEASON OF THE WITCH is now available from CONTRA publishing. Cathi talks with Gustavo Iglesias of Radio 3 (Spain) HERE (starts 20 mins in).
CATHI ON ELECTRONICALLY YOURS PODCAST WITH
MARTYN WARE
Cathi talks to HEAVEN 17/BEF/HUMAN LEAGUE's Martyn Ware about SEASON OF THE WITCH, life in the Eighties and how the best of music was made from the worst of times. Tune in HERE
CATHI ON THE JAMES McMAHON MUSIC PODCAST
Cathi talks to host JAMES McMAHON about Dennis Wheatley and Margaret Thatcher, Aleister Crowley and Arthur Daley, The Rendlesham Incident and The Cramps and many more fertile Goth Leylines. Tune in HERE
CATHI ON DRESS: FANCY
Cathi was delighted to be asked by host LUCY CLAYTON to talk all things GOTH for her HALLOWEEN SPECIAL! Pull up a pumpkin and join us HERE
CATHI AND MAX DÉCHARNÉ AT CONVIVIAL RABBIT FRINGE FESTIVAL
Hear Cathi and KING'S ROAD author MAX discuss Goths, Teds, Punks and the heroic deeds of Bram Stoker at the recent Convivial Rabbit Fring Festival in Dorchester HERE
CATHI ON WORD IN YOUR EAR LIVE
Cathi was delighted to be a guest on WORD IN YOUR EAR LIVE at 21Soho on 25 September. You can hear her conversation with hosts MARK ELLEN and DAVID HEPWORTH on all matters Goth HERE
CATHI ON BETTER KNOWN PODCAST
IVAN WISE invited Cathi onto his incredibly interesting Better Known podcast. All Ivan's guests get to talk about six people or things that should be better known – Cathi chose:
The magazine Fortean Times
Getting to know London's secrets by going for long walks
The noir writer Derek Raymond
The pop artist Pauline Boty
The publisher London Books
The musician Tim Smith
Listen in HERE
Photo by Travis Elborough
The magazine Fortean Times
Getting to know London's secrets by going for long walks
The noir writer Derek Raymond
The pop artist Pauline Boty
The publisher London Books
The musician Tim Smith
Listen in HERE
Photo by Travis Elborough
CATHI ON FOXY RADIO
Cathi talks Goth with Peter Fox and plays ten classics from the crypt. Listen again HERE
CATHI ON SUZI'S BOOK BAG
Cathi talks to host SUZI FEAY – who served her own Goth apprenticeship in Leeds during the glory years of 1981-3 – about SEASON OF THE WITCH: THE BOOK OF GOTH. And all matters pertaining to it. Tune in, turn on, burn out HERE
CATHI ON THE BOOKS PODCAST
Cathi talks to host TIM HAIGH about SEASON OF THE WITCH and how the turbulent reign of Margaret Thatcher shaped Goth's musical response. Tune in HERE
CATHI ON
WORD IN YOUR EAR
Cathi joins hosts MARK ELLEN and DAVID HEPWORTH to talk cider and black, hanging round in graveyards, using orange juice to spike up your hair and much more HERE
CATHI ON BRITFLICKS PODCAST
Cathi joins host STUART WRIGHT to select Three Films That Have Impacted Everything In Your Adult Life: NIGHT OF THE HUNTER (Charles Laughton, 1955), WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND (Bryan Forbes, 1961) and GOODFELLAS (Martin Scorsese, 1990). Find out what these cinematic gems have to do with SEASON OF THE WITCH: THE BOOK OF GOTH HERE
CATHI ON C86
Cathi joins host David Eastlaugh in his Time Tunnel to the Eighties to talk about the dark psychic weather of SEASON OF THE WITCH and Goth's response to the Thatcher reign. Tune in, turn on, burn out HERE
CATHI ON RADIO 4
FRONT ROW
Listen to Cathi talking Goth with Samira Ahmed HERE
CATHI ON THE LYDIAN SPIN
Cathi discusses SEASON OF THE WITCH: THE BOOK OF GOTH with her very own Gothmother LYDIA LUNCH HERE
CATHI ON THE ORIGINS OF GOTH AT THE BUREAU
OF LOST CULTURE
WITH STEPHEN COATES
Cathi joined musician and cultural curator STEPHEN COATES at his Bureau of Lost Culture show on Soho Radio to talk about the origins of Gothic music and spin some sounds from The Banshees, The Cramps, The Sisters, Shock-Headed Peters, The Cult and The Bunnymen… TUNE INTO THE PODCAST HERE
CATHI TALKS GOTH
ON FLIPSIDE
RADIO LONDON
Cathi talks with host AIDAN McMANUS about the eighties youth culture that dripped blood for his regular Portobello Radio show. Take a rocket from the crypt HERE
OH THE HORROR!
CATHI AND JENNY HVAL ON THE MIT PODCAST
The role of 'despised women' – be they covens of witches, working girls or teeange gangs – is one of the subjects discussed by Cathi and Norwegian musician, artist and author Jenny as they talk to each other about Bad Penny Blues and Jenny's new novel Girls Against God. Also on the agenda: the power of music to shape narrative and travel through time, the phenomena of Black Metal and the spooky world of Joe Meek. Tune in HERE
CATHI ON THE LYDIAN SPIN PODCAST
Cathi talks to Lydia and Tim about Bad Penny Blues ahead of its forthcoming reissue this autumn by Strange Attractor Press. This fictionalized investigation into the Jack the Stripper murders – 1960s London’s biggest unsolved case – comes with a new Introduction from Greil Marcus and an afterword in which the author details just how haunting the process of recreating the book’s milieu became. LISTEN HERE
NEW AUDIO: CATHI IN WE DIDN'T START THE FIRE PODCAST
Deaf in one ear, shy, bisexual, sensitive – are these the reasons Johnnie Ray isn't worshipped as the Father of Rock and Roll? Katie, Tom and author Cathi Unsworth joins hosts Katie Puckrick and Tom Fordyce to explore the world of the man who gave way to Elvis, the Beatles, Morrissey. It's a journey which will take them from a small farm in Oregon to African-American clubs in Detroit, and finally to hidden corners in smokey clubs where London's 1950s subcultures could be found. Tune in HERE
BAD PENNY BLUES LAUNCH: CATHI TALKS TO TRAVIS ELBOROUGH
Listen again to Cathi talking about the book with author, broadcaster and Sohemian pal Travis Elborough HERE
And listen to the full Bad Penny tracklist HERE
Every song is a chapter/section title and a time tunnel back to 'our Napoli'.
And listen to the full Bad Penny tracklist HERE
Every song is a chapter/section title and a time tunnel back to 'our Napoli'.
CATHI ON CRIMETIME FM PODCAST
Cathi chats to Paul Burke about her classic London novel BAD PENNY BLUES recently reissued by Strange Attractor Press. This new edition has a introduction on the importance of the novel by Greil Marcus and an illuminating afterword by Cathi.
Cathi tells Paul about her fictional account of the Hammersmith nude murders: eight women were brutally killed between 1959 and 1965. Corruption, incompetence, and lack of care meant the women the were stigmatised as prostitutes – these crimes were never solved.
BAD PENNY BLUES is also a portrayal of London in the early 1960s, the thriving and vibrant life of the city, from the art scene to the music scene. Several of the fictional characters draw on real personalities for their inspiration – Pauline Boty, Joe Meek, Colin McInnes and celebrated spiritualist Winifred Moyes.
As an added treat there's a wonderfully atmospheric dramatic reading from the novel by Cathi taken from the Transmissions series with music by electronic composer Pete Woodhead (co-composer Shaun of the Dead).
Tune in, turn on HERE
Cathi tells Paul about her fictional account of the Hammersmith nude murders: eight women were brutally killed between 1959 and 1965. Corruption, incompetence, and lack of care meant the women the were stigmatised as prostitutes – these crimes were never solved.
BAD PENNY BLUES is also a portrayal of London in the early 1960s, the thriving and vibrant life of the city, from the art scene to the music scene. Several of the fictional characters draw on real personalities for their inspiration – Pauline Boty, Joe Meek, Colin McInnes and celebrated spiritualist Winifred Moyes.
As an added treat there's a wonderfully atmospheric dramatic reading from the novel by Cathi taken from the Transmissions series with music by electronic composer Pete Woodhead (co-composer Shaun of the Dead).
Tune in, turn on HERE
CATHI ON
BRITFLICKS PODCAST
Cathi joins host STUART WRIGHT to talk about five films that inspired and informed BAD PENNY BLUES:
- BEAT GIRL aka WILD FOR KICKS,
(Edmond T Grévile, 1959) - POP GOES THE EASEL (Ken Russell's BBC 2 Monitor film about British Pop Artists, 1962)
- THE L-SHAPED ROOM (Bryan Forbes, 1962)
- SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON (Bryan Forbes, 1964)
- THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE (Robert Aldrich, 1968)
NOW ON AUDIBLE: LONDON NOIR
It's been a long time since we did this particular working, but London Noir, the collection of short stories Cathi edited for Akashic's Noir series is now available on Audible.
With original short stories by Barry Adamson, Joolz Denby, Sylvie Simmons, John L Williams, Mark O Pilkington, Des Barry, Joe McNally, Stewart Home, Ken Bruen, Patrick McCabe, Ken Hollings, Daniel Bennett, Martyn Waites, Michael Ward and Jerry Skyes – and the vocal talents of Jon Glover, Timothy Bentinck, Jane Slavin and David Thorpe.
Tune in HERE
With original short stories by Barry Adamson, Joolz Denby, Sylvie Simmons, John L Williams, Mark O Pilkington, Des Barry, Joe McNally, Stewart Home, Ken Bruen, Patrick McCabe, Ken Hollings, Daniel Bennett, Martyn Waites, Michael Ward and Jerry Skyes – and the vocal talents of Jon Glover, Timothy Bentinck, Jane Slavin and David Thorpe.
Tune in HERE
CATHI IN HORSE HOSPITAL UNDER THREAT – RESONANCE FM DOCUMENTARY
One devastating effect of the lockdown was the closure of THE HORSE HOSPITAL at a time when London's premier punk arts venue's future was hanging in the balance. Just prior to the doors closing, Cathi was interviewed by Resonance FM's JONATHAN MUNRO for this documentary, featuring Horse founders Roger K Burton and Guy Sangster Adams, as well as amazing artist Cathy Ward, esteemed writer/Godzilla lecturer Ken Hollings and a host of other regular faces, which you can now listen to HERE
A LOVE LETTER TO NELSON ALGREN
CATHI ON ANN SCANLON'S BOOGALOO RADIO SHOW
Never play cards with any man named Doc
Never eat at any place called Mom's
And never, ever, sleep with anyone whose troubles are worse than your own…
Cathi joins Ann Scanlon on her Boogaloo Radio show to send A Love Letter to… her favourite writer Nelson Algren. Best known for The Man With The Golden Arm, A Walk On The Wild Side and his short story collection The Neon Wilderness, Algren was a Chicago street poet who mixed freely with hustlers, addicts, pimps and whores and who could write about hell in such a way that he actually touched heaven. With readings from his work and music from The Flaming Stars, Barry Adamson, Jimmy Smith, Billie Holiday, Andre Williams, Bessie Smith, Camille O'Sullivan, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Oscar Brown Jr and Richmond Fontaine. Tune in HERE
Nelson pic by ART SHAY
Never eat at any place called Mom's
And never, ever, sleep with anyone whose troubles are worse than your own…
Cathi joins Ann Scanlon on her Boogaloo Radio show to send A Love Letter to… her favourite writer Nelson Algren. Best known for The Man With The Golden Arm, A Walk On The Wild Side and his short story collection The Neon Wilderness, Algren was a Chicago street poet who mixed freely with hustlers, addicts, pimps and whores and who could write about hell in such a way that he actually touched heaven. With readings from his work and music from The Flaming Stars, Barry Adamson, Jimmy Smith, Billie Holiday, Andre Williams, Bessie Smith, Camille O'Sullivan, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Oscar Brown Jr and Richmond Fontaine. Tune in HERE
Nelson pic by ART SHAY
THE LAST DAYS OF DEREK RAYMOND
On 10 July, Cathi, together with JOHN WILLIAMS, GEOFF COX and BRIAN O'NEILL hosted a tribute evening to the late, great DEREK RAYMOND to honour the marking of 25 years since he took his leave. The event, which took place at the Fiztrovia HQ of the SOHEMIAN SOCIETY was recorded by TRAVIS ELBOROUGH and included readings from correspondence that has never been shared before as well as John's moving account of the last days he shared with his friend, fellow writer and mentor. You can listen in to it HERE
CATHI'S MIXTAPE ON
THE VOICE OF CASSANDRE
VOL 1 & 2
The Trans-Europe Express radio show the Voice of Cassandre asked Cathi to do a mixtape. No talk, just one hour of rocking good tunes, featuring The Tornados, Lydia Lunch, Barry Adamson, Gallon Drunk, Cesarians, Cardiacs and more HERE
Volume 2 featuring Steven Jesse Bernstein, Nancy and Lee, Lee Dorsey, Tom Jones, Barry Adamson, Gallon Drunk, Thee Headcoatees, Serge Gainsbourg and more HERE
Volume 2 featuring Steven Jesse Bernstein, Nancy and Lee, Lee Dorsey, Tom Jones, Barry Adamson, Gallon Drunk, Thee Headcoatees, Serge Gainsbourg and more HERE
Cathi and Jordan audio
Some of the radio interviews DEFYING GRAVITY cached here... Plus audio of live events...
Jordan and Cathi pic by Sally Reid
Jordan and Cathi pic by Sally Reid
That Old Black Magic Audiobook read by
Jon Glover
Jon Glover returns to narrate That Old Black Magic for the Audible unabridged version of the complete text. Jon, who helped bring many of the characters to life at the book's launch, is of course known for his acclaimed work on Spitting Image, BBC radio's Neverwhere and as television's Mr Cholmondely-Warner. The complete unabridged 9-CD audibook is available to buy at £49.99 from Oakhill Publishing HERE
Or download from Audible HERE
Or download from Audible HERE
Without The Moon Audiobook read by
Jon Glover
The WF Howes Lamplight series audiobook of WITHOUT THE MOON is narrated by Jon Glover, who helped bring many of the characters to life at the book's launch, and is of course known for his acclaimed work on Spitting Image, BBC radio's Neverwhere and as television's Mr Cholmondely-Warner. The 9-CD set is available, priced £20.41 HERE
